File search data selector



March 29. 1966 E. J. RABENDA ETAL FILE SEARCH DATA SELECTOR OriginalFiled May 5, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 TRANSLATOR OUT 5 55 ks-3 g 3 (FIGHOF APPLICATION A) V 0@-lk T9 KOTRANSLATOR OUT 2 o 55 TAPE EMITTER 2 A V2K 0 a0 OTRANSLATOR OUT 1 270 55 TAPE EMITTER 1 A, A 2K W 81 OTRANSLATOROUT 0 270 55 TAPE EMTTTER 0 A 2K H (FlG512 OF APPLICATION A) 52TRANSLATOR OUT 11 O 250 55 TAPE EMITTER 11 I a5 TRANSLATOR ouT 12 o V250 5 5 TAPE EMITTEH 12 I \(FG OF PP one A rzK O T59 ALI INA) (FIG? 0FAPPLICATIONA) v SAMPLE PULSE mm or APPLTcATToA A B4 m0 WRITE CONDITIONRlNG DRIVE PULSES A 2K +4 PULSE O(F'IG4OF' APPLICATION A) 85 CONTROLPANEL RESET 8.2 'T 7 ORESET HUB r K V m 3.3 1 F0 m I V A 2K 1 L J(FlG.40F DUMP 101 102 I L J +1 PULSE APPAICATTONA J -(OR CIRCUIT T05WRITE CONDITION Hm Hm Hm FIGBT m ()R TFTHQOTAPPLTAATTQAAT L10 cmcun456,FIG28 or APPLICATION A) H650 HG.5E FIGZAF March 29. 1966 E. J.RABENDA ETAL 3,243,733

FILE SEARCH DATA SELECTOR Original Filed May 5, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 5,AND CIRCUIT 328,F|G22 OF 45 A E I A O WITH 51%? PLICATION A) kl: INPUTSATION AI SET LRC ERROR TRIC 7 I I l I I I I I I FILE SEARCH INTERLOCK"ON" CATE VERTICAL ERROR CHECK CONTROL PANEL RESET-* NEH-68 F FILESEARCH INTERLOCH IMEC LICATION AI ,FICZOF [OUTPUT OF CATHODE FOLLOWERI054 FIG50 OF APPLICATION AI (OUTPUT 0F CATHOIJE FOLLOWER I29I FIG 55 OFAPPLICATION A) LLOWER 811.

R CUI T 525 FTI; Z 0F EPTIEATIOII TH 5' INPUT) NOT READ-INERRORIOUTPUTOF CATHOOE FOLLOWER 555 FIC22 OF AP T TAPE MARK (OUTPUT OFOATH 0 OCHFCK CHARACTER ERRoR IRcIs 0F AFP END OF TAPE 00 APPLICATION AIFILE SEARCH ON HUB FILE SEARCH FIELD DEFINITION WRITE CONDITION (OUTPUTOF CATHODE F0 FIG 59 OFAPPLICATION A) TRANSLATOR CONTROL TAPE VERIFY INOT TAPE VERIFY (H657 OF APPLICATION A) TAPE MARK RECORD GATE flN-INCOMPLETED CONDITION 0: MULTIPLE FIELD INTERLOCK HUB RlNG DRIVE PULSES(OUTPUT OF CATHODE FOLLOWER 8 March 29, 1966 E. J. RABENDA ETAL FILESEARCH DATA SELECTOR Original Filed May 5, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 noFIG. 30 m m 2 112 115 sR 2 56 I TAPE EMITTER R A K 2 0 BLANK sn 2 -1 A2K 0 (H025 0F APPLICATION A) SAMPLE PULSE O 270 55 TQJPEZOWTJE) CILSRZCBA N K 12 a? R T L CJRANSLATO 9 210 '55 TAPE EMITTER 9 T 73 saQlRANSLATOR 8 270 I 35 TAPE EMITTER a w A 2K @lRANSLATOR OUT 7 5 5 TAPEEMITTER 1 A 2K 1F (H91: 0F APPLICATION A) 15 90 OMNSLATOR OUT 6 270 53TAPE EM TIER 6 A 2K WF TRANSLATOR our 5 /76 91 QL 270 35 TAPE EMITTER 5A 2K Wm 77 92 L TRANsLAmR 0m 4 //2?0 M3 T E YER 4 AP EMI T A 2K March29. 1966 J, RABENDA ETAL 3,243,783

FILE SEARCH DATA SELECTOR l3 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed May 5, 195B(INVERTER I054 AND CATHODE FOLLOWEII 1055 N S A m A 3 T N 3 DI T C H II/R I F N R A .L A 1 A I CL C 0 P u 2 T .n. I DH P P I 5 T I G IL 6 N M GP U A O W 60 I R I I0 R M T 5 A E T 4 N 0 IA r I [I w U 5 P CI 9.. D 0 0CI 6 O 0 0 a On 5 M RI I TI G A T 0A D [I 2 A E DT s .5 E T W OT DI N DT P 0 m I m NCI ZJ M T 0 P A I A0 T M 9% LT OR B Om mm I I I I N AS h L5 rE I II III G M 00 1% UI 0 h It A E 0 K R D M Hn M P I 0 TR 0 A I K F.CT CK W 0 A U NP 8 I 00 N M T 07 4 Dw LA A 0 6 M T 4 I 008 I. Um A 4 T IB 4 OCT -II I I I I I I I 3/ f W B N m M 2 2 3 A A 5 A I V V II PIIILIIII |1 FI II ITTI IIIL m F M n v W O I I I I n w I m I AIM M M WMF mZJI ELI A A ATCA I. N A 5) m w N 0 D E I. N m hw UM o n N wN D: 0 T DInHu A 0 I P I A P D1 I ADIC F A N A I DI AIL Cr. I 1 HT F A I A P Dm L Ul IL I (I L m 3 P MHZA MM MOMW 2 II R G 5 R I 0 .I I Pu S E EL 06 CL .LIK C U I S UW H n N .l. FI w 1A6 C [L N R S RNT .I7J IJI/ A C OCCEL ER mM% H 0 W E D O E RT! A .,N c KELD CMMN NWDHIL C L F M m M EMW ME R o E NE T C 21. M MM MM 9 E U P CL El V R E S 0 6K D L A U O U EH DI IL IL DTUnu Po I WMF w LE WN O M MN I N NI 0 I TO, FIG.3EI

CLLRC ERROR SAMPLE (FICAO OF RECORD BACKSPACE APPLICATION AI,

SINGLE FILE SEARCH BACKSPACE (OUTPUT OF AND CIRCUIT I055 FIC49OFAPPLICATION A) FIG 53 ESTART APPLIC (OUTPUT 0F CATHOOE FOLLOWER 682,

FIG.53 OF APPLICATION A) (0 OF CATHODE FOLLOWERS 350R 355, .22 OFAPPLICATION A) F'LESEARCH ERRORR FOLLOWERIO69,FIG.5O OF TAPE GO 0 POTFIG READ ERROR START (OUTPUT 0F OATROOFFOLLOwER 988,FIG470FAPPLICATIONA) OEITART AFTER TAPE MARK (OUTPUT OE CATHODE (FIG, (4 OF APPLICATIONAITAPPLICATION A) DELAYED BACKWARD TILE SEARCH INTERLOCK ON" BEGINNING OFRECORD SEARCH (OUTPUT OF CATIIDDE FOLLOWER 840,F|C40 OF APPLICATION AISINGLE RECORD BACKSPACE W 40 OF APPLICATION A) March 29. 1966 E. J.RABENDA ETAL 3,243,733

FILE SEARCH DATA SELECTOR Original Filed May 5, 1958 15 Sheets-Sheet 8FTLE s'EARON sAlP' FIG 30 CONDITION/\ APPLICATION A IS THE EJRABENDA ETAL U.S. PATENT APPLICATION sER NO 648,5TLHLED NAROR 25,1957, T ANO ENTTTOATA SE T R LED LEG 65 NOT FILE SEARCH sNTP OONOTTION FILE SEARCH 0N-'-NOT FILE 1K K SEARCH ON 0 NOT RON 1N COMPLETED CONDITION 0 P2? (OUTPUTOF CATHOUE FOLLOWER OO4,TN;.A2 OF APPLICATION A) I50 sTORAOE TNTERLOONNOO I OuTPuT 0F OATNOOE FOLLOWERTZQ, X 27A RECORD GATE (FIG. 35 0FAPPLICAHON A) '3 RAOAwARO sTOP DELAY M JSELECTED TOOTPOTOPOATROOEFOALOwER65O,T|O.52"OF 'APPL|OAT|ON A) RECORD 7 d 'I O INTERLOCKREAD OuTRECOR GATE(F|G43 OF APPLICATION A) L 1M SH READY (OUTPUT OF CATHODEFOLLOWER1065,FIG5OOF APPucATToN AN i A 9 1 I am PROORAN HUB 69 75 24 L KN K NOT sTOP \JAND CIRCUIT9240F PROGRAM FIG OFAPPLTOATTON 1 MEG AWTTN SINPUTI 60V NOT TAPE MARKF|G43 OFAPPUCATION A) A ONvERTER OIRO TT 923,1 9SET READY TRAGGER (OUTPUT 0F CATHODE FOL- OF APPLWO" A A lHWOAPPUCATON LLOWER 988, FIG AT OF 7 {R;:F OSTRRT APPLTOATTON mx 20/20 O uNTN COMPLETECONDITION r A 1/25, NOT READ IN ERROR A l (OUTPUT 0F CATHODE FOLLOWER535; l. J

PTO22 0F APPUCATION A) (OUTPUT 0F WHOM FQLLOWER 906.FIG-42 (OR OTROOTT381, FIG 24 OFAPPLICATION Al ,/OF APPLICATION A WITH GUINPUT) (OUTPUT 0FOATROOE FOLLOWER r- 56$,FIG. 25 OFAPPLICATION A) T I f TSET PROORAN REAOOOT ERROR SAMPLE 220 0 STOP TRIGGER NOT MLR INTERLOCK A A T 1 M N OT(OuTPuT 0F OATHODE FOLLOWER1067, FIG 0F f AM I A A I N APPLICATION A)March 29, 1966 J, RABENDA ETAL 3,243,783

FILE SEARCH DATA SELECTOR Original Filed May 5, 1958 13 Sheets-Sheet 93E I BLOCK ERROR BACKSPACE APPLICATION A IS EJ.RA8ENDA L T I--- ET ALOs, PATENT APPLICATION,SER.NO,648,371, A \62G/(TR1GGER IOI2,

SELECTOR.

NOT FILE SEARCH INTERLDCK A (OUTPUT F CATHDDE FDLLDWER 42, FIG. 3A

MULTIPLE FIELD T 75 INTERLDCK CDNDLTION A K I FILED MARCH 25,1957 ANDENTITLED DATA L J Fl(; OFAPPLICAIIDN A) FILE SEARCH ON 0F APPL IGZIA /70(INPUT OE OR 5 5 OTAPE IIERIFY RG22 OF APPLICATION AI) 7 g w IOOIPOI 0FOIIIROOE FOLLOWERS 527 (TO OR CIRCU'T B'HGSB OREAD IN ERROR II355,F|C.22 OF APPLICATION Ah (TRIGGER OO EIOOO OF APPLICATION A) I I T'1I STORAGE I I ENTRY OOIIIROE I FT OO (CATHODE FOLLOWER 938,FIC.44 OFAPPLICATION A) I L (AMPLIFIER 93?, EIO44 OF APPLICATION A)-\ I J I I r-'I- *I I L I STCRAGEINTERLOCK CONDITION 54 1 #9 FL I V 270 I I OOI I A"F'*LGAF'LHI K FF: 1 1M I I J I L -E.I L J I I \(INVERTER 959, I I EIOOIOF APPLICATION A L L I I IOR CIRCUIT 95s START sEORIIOE ENTRY HUBS c I:(SEE FIG440F APPLICATION A){ L i\ F'G-MOFAPPL'CAT'ON A) I March 29,1966 RABENDA ETAL 3,243,783

FILE SEARCH DATA SELECTOR l5 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 Original Filed May 5, 1958mozw ww 51553 EN Q $85358 3:515 92 E g g g mo var.

United States Patent ()filice 3,243,783 Patented Mar. 29, 1966 New YorkOriginal application May 5, 1958, Ser. No. 733,188, now Patent No.3,126,523, dated Mar. 24, 1964. Divided and this application May 10,1962, Ser. No. 196,545

14 Claims. (Cl. 340-1725) This application is a division of copendingapplication Serial No. 733,188, filed May 5, 1958.

This invention relates to a File Search Tape Data Selector specificallyadapted to perform a Fixed Field File Search Operation and, or aFloating Word File Search Operation. The File Search circuitry of theFile Search Tape Data Selector is disclosed herein, for rendering moreclear its operation and extensive utility, as employed in a Tape DataSelector of the type disclosed and claimed in the Edward J. Rabenda, etal., US. patent application, Serial Number 648,371, filed March 25,1957, and entitled Data Selector now Patent No. 3,040,300. The aboveidentified E. J. Rabenda et al. US. patent application is of commonassignee with this application and for convenience is hereinafterreferred as application A.

Present day Data Processing Systems may store a large amount ofinformation in record. Each record may be of variable length: theinformation Within each record may be of great variation in word length:and no codes are employed between records. All the information stored inone or more records may, at some time, be required and used in thepreparation of reports, in the performance of calculations prior to thepreparation of a f report, or in any other Data Processing operations.However, at other times, only certain portions of the data, orinformation, in one or more records may be required. It is to the DataProcessing of only certain portions of the data, or information, in oneor more records that the File Search Tape Data Selector of the presentinvention is particularly adapted and of great utility. However, fromthe detailed description of the File Search Tape Data Selector thatfollows herein it will be readily appreciated that the utility thereofis in no way limited to the above application,

For example, personnel records each may contain personal informationsuch as date of birth, education, job experience, rate of pay, date ofemployment, various types of personal deductions, deductions such astaxes required by law, and the like.

For payroll preparation, such information as rate of pay, deductions andthe like are required, while reports on employees with certainqualifications require information such as education, age, jobexperience etc. Corresponding for insurance purposes such as informationas age, date of employment, and the like are required.

Due to the great amount of information required in each record, currentData Processing Systems utilize magnetic tape as a basic source of data.However, in prior systems, flexibility in operation and in the selectionof data from the tapes has been limited.

It is an object of this invention to provide a File Search Data Selectorcapable of automatically performing a variety of different selections ina novel manner.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor processing records of variable lengths.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor processing records of variable length, wherein the data in eachrecord is set forth in words of variable length.

fill

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor processing records of variable lengths, with variable length wordstherein and where no address or identifying code for each record isnecessary to subsequently select it.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor selecting certain records from a group of records and reading theinformation stored in said certain records into storage and skipping theremaining records of said group of records.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor selecting certain records each containing at least a predeterminedgroup of characters therein in a prescribed order, from a group ofrecords, and reading the entire information stored in said selectedcertain records into storage for data processing purposes.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor selecting certain records, each containing at least a predeterminedgroup of characters therein in a prescribed order, from a group ofrecords, and rendering the entire information stored in said selectedcertain records available for data processing purposes.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor selecting certain records, each containing at least a predeterminedgroup of characters therein in a prescribed field, from a group ofrecords, and reading the entire information stored in each of saidselected certain records into storage for data processing purposes.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor selecting certain records, each containing at least a predeterminedgroup of characters therein in a prescribed field, from a group ofrecords and rendering the entire information stored in said selectedcertain records available for data processing purposes.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor selecting certain records, each containing at least a predeterminedgroup of characters therein in a prescribed order, from a group ofrecords, and rendering the entire, or any portion, of the informationstored in said selected certain records available for data processingpurposes.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor selecting certain records, each containing at least a predeterminedgroup of characters therein in a prescribed field, from a group ofrecords, and rendering the entire, or any portion, of the informationstored in said selected certain records available for data processingpurposes.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor selecting certain records, each containing at least a predeterminedword anywhere therein, from a group of records, and rendering theentire, or any portion, of the information stored in said selectedrecords available for data processing purposes.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selector inaccordance with the preceding object and characterized in that said wordmay consist of alphabetic characters, numeric characters, charactersother than alphabetic or numeric, or any combination of theafore-recited characters.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor reading records from a tape, a drum, or the like, and selectivelyskip certain records in a group of records.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor reading records from a tape, a drum, or the like, and to selectivelyselect certain records from a group of records.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selector toselect corresponding data, or different data, from each record of agroup of records.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor selecting data from a plurality of records and to store the selecteddata.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorwith means for continually indicating which record and which characterof said record is being read.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor reading records and having counters to count the records andcharacters read.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor reading records and including means responsive to certain characterscontained in certain records to effect storage of at least a portion ofthe data stored in said certain records.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor controllably, or automatically, reading a data tape forward apredetermined number of records, to backspace a second predeterminednumber of records and then to resume reading the data tape in a forwarddirection.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor controllably, or automatically, reading and rereading a tape recordand to select different portions of the data during each reading.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor searching tape wherein information to be searched for, does not havean assigned address.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Seach Data Selectorwhich permits indiscriminate preparation of records within whichinformation may be recorded, in any manner, by each of many peoplerecording this data, yet upon requirement any portion of this randomrecorded data and any record of the tape may be selected for processing.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor searching for information in existing files which are not set up ina particular format.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorwithin which record identifying codes are completely eliminated and yetcommon information may be correlated.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorwherein a minimum tape record block may always be used yet provide ameans for variable word length searching. For example, the magazinetitle LIFE requires only four characters whereas the magazine titleCOSMOPOLITAN requires twelve characters.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor selecting records having words therein containing a similar lettersequence, such as transistor and transistorized.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor file searching tape records, the information of which was obtainedfrom punched cards punched at random by untrained operators.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor, under control of a normal space between words, automaticallycontrolling the sequence of checking each word passing the tape readingmeans.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorwhereby a synonym of words may be correlated such as lever, arm, blank,bar, etc. as usually referred to by different individuals.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorwhereby searching for a word, or words, may begin under control of oneof the letters within the word. For example, the word transistor and theword semiconductor would be file searched and initiated under control ofthe letter T followed by O or R.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorwhereby certain words having a common series of letters may becorrelated. For example, the words, magnet, magnetic, demagnetized,demagnetize, etc.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorwhereby part numbers representing bills of materials, or assemblies,calling for part numbers may be indiscriminately placed within a recordyet later correlated.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorthat has particular utility in patent searching, Chemical Industries,production control, investigative materials, Armed Forces, literaturesearching, word analysis, study of languages, etc.

An object of this invention is to provide a File Search Data Selectorfor performing a Fixed Field File Search Operation and, or a FloatingWord File Search Operation.

An object of this invention is a File Search Data Selector that isparticularly adapted for use with an IBM 402, and an IBM 403, an IBM 407or an IBM 519.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention andthe best mode which has been contemplated of applying that principle.

The apparatus of the novel File Search Data Selector, as describedherein, employs magnetic tape as a data source, and magnetic cores as astorage unit, but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatvarious types of data sources and storage devices could be employed.

The File Search Data Selector disclosed herein provides control circuitswhich cause the reading of a magnetic tape containing manifestationsgrouped to represent characters and blocks of information. Counters areprovided to count blocks and characters as the tape is read. Thecounters in combination with the control circuits provide means wherebya selected number of blocks may be read and certain blocks may be rereador skipped as infoimation is selected character by character from the oc's.

A brief description of Fixed Field Operation of the File Search DataSelector, described in detail hereinafter, will now be set forth. TheFixed Field Operation permits tape records to be searched for a certaincombination of characters located in fixed columns in the record. Forexample, each record can be examined to see if the characters A, B, Cand D occur in columns 5, 6, 7 and 8, respectively. In addition recordscan be searched for the presence of two or more groups of characters.Also, the record can be searched for the presence of one, or the other,of different classes of data. As the tape read feeds in a forwarddirection pulses derived from the tape for each column are translatedinto the Hollerith code and go directly to plug hubs called Tape EmitterHubs. A counter counts columns on the tape and plug hubs are provided sothat as each column is sensed a pulse or pulses will be emitted whichare indicative of the column being sensed. For example, plug hub number1 in the units column will emit a pulse when the first column is sensed.A plug hub number 2 in the units column will emit a pulse when thesecond column is sensed, etc. Column 10 will be indicated by a pulsefrom plug hub number 1 in the tens column and a pulse from plug number 0in the units column. An Electronic Selector is plugged so that it pickson the first column of the field to be searched and drops out after thelast column thereof. Pluggable AND circuits are employed so that a pulsefrom a particular column counter can be ANDed with the proper pulse orpulses from the Tape Emitter. If, for example, it is desired to searchfor an A in column 5. the number 5 plug hub in the units column of thecolumn counter will be plugged to one input of the AND circuit plug hubs12 and 1 of the tape emitter which represent an A in Hollerith code,will be plugged to the other inputs of the same AND circuit. If pulsesare present from both the column counter and from the tape emitter, theAND circuit have an output and the machine will proceed to examinecharacters from succeeding columns of the tape. If all columns agreetape feed will stop. The tape will back up to the start of the record,then resume forward travel and render available for storage, orprocessing, the data, or any selected portion thereof, contained in thisrecord, a Selected Record.

A brief description of Floating Word Operation of the File Search DataSelector, described in detail hereinafter, will now be set forth TheFloating Word operation permits a record on a tape to be selected byrecognizing a word, a combination of words, one or the other of twowords, or a particular sequence of letters, numbers, etc., regardless oftheir position on the record. An example would be titles of magazinearticles where the word of interest might be located anywhere within thetitle. Furthermore, the word of interest might be, for example, eithermotor" or engine as either word might be used in a magazine article. Asin the Fixed Field Operation a column counter and pluggable AND circuitsare employed. In a Floating Word Operation, however, the Tape Blockcolumn is reset to zero when the first character of the word searchedfor is recognized. The Tape Block Column Counter will then controlcomparison of succeeding characters of the word. In the case ofsearching for either of two (or more) words, the Tape Block ColumnCounter is reset when the first character of either word is recognized.Electronic Selectors are employed to establish the character of sequenceto be examined as distated by the first character sensed. When asearched for word is located tape feed stops. The tape is backspaced tothe start of the record containing the searched for Word. Thereafter thetape resumes forward travel and renders available for storage, orprocessing, the data, or

any selected portion thereof, contained in this record, a SelectedRecord.

DEFINITIONS Definitions of terms used subsequently herein will now beset forth.

Tape emitter hubs-Exit hubs from which the tape characters are availablein card code as they are internally processed in a serial fashion. Theoutput pulses are in synchronism with the Tape Block Column Counter,thereby providing for recognition of a specific character in any tapecolumn by control panel wiring. All characters are present at theemitter hubs although they are not all selected for bufier entry. The NOZONE HUB (N.Z.) provides the necessary exclusiveness for recognition ofa numeric character.

File search ON (F.S. ON).A bottle plug switch which provides thenecessary interlocking for a File Search type of Operation. The moreimportant interlocking features are: the automatic backspace afterfinding a Selected Record; the gating of storage entry control so thatit is effective only after a Selected Record has been found andbackspacing has occurred; and preventing the advance of the ForwardBlock Counter for all but Selected Records. Removal of the F.S. ON plugrestores machine operation to normal as determined by control panelwiring for tape motion and butler entry.

Field definition (F.D.).An entry hub that requires an input to definethe field or fields to be interrogated for file search control. Thetiming required is basically that provided by the Tape Block ColumnCounter. For this reason the FD. hub is normally wired to the Tape BlockColumn Counter directly (through necessary incidence and coincidenceunits) if single or few consecutive columns are involved in each fieldor to an Electronic Selector if numerous consecutive columns areinvolved. In this case the selector is picked on the first and droppedon the last column of each field with common wire to a plug hub C.

File search (F .S.).An entry hub used in conjunction with the TapeEmitter Hubs to determine if a given record is to be selected or passed.Basically the desired characters are wired for coincidence with theproper columns to provide this input. If coincidence occurs for allinputs within the Search Field the record is selected; if not the recordis passed.

Multiple field interlock (M.F.I.).-An entry hub that provides for theselection of a record if one of several Search Fields indicates aselection. The input required is the last column of each Search Field asprovided by the Tape Block Column Counter. For example, if search fieldA includes columns 21 through 25 and search field B includes columns 36through 45, then the M.F.I. hub must have inputs from columns 25 and 45of the Tape Block Colunm Counter (through necessary coincident andincident units) to provide for selection on an OR basis.

Stop Program.-A bottle plug switch that provides for suspending machineoperation after processing a given record. If bottle plugged theoperation stops after the printing of each record. This provision isparticularly useful on a File Search Operation if it is desired to alterthe file search control information after each successive SelectedRecord. An Electronic Selector may be utilized for this function byidentifying a specific record and controlling the pick of the selectorfrom this information. After a Stop Program, the machine may berestarted by depressing the Start button on the operators panel.

Block column counter resel.An entry hub that permits reset and.recycling of the Block Column Counter by control panel wiring. For acommon application the Reset hub is used in conjunction with the Blockapplication. For example, assume that the individual records arecharacters in length. The Reset hub is wired to 100 of the Block ColunmCounter to reset the counter after the 100th character is processed sothat the 101st character (actually the first character of the secondgrouped record) is indicated as character 1 by the counter. Reset mayalso be controlled with a given character. This requires the use of anElectronic Selector which is controlled by character recognition fromthe Tape Emitter hubs. The Column Counter Reset feature permitsreduction of control panel wiring and effectively increases controlpanel capacity.

Plug to C.-Exit hubs that provide a constant output (+10 volts) for usein the electronic section of the control panel. Some common uses are: tocommon hubs of Electronic Selectors; to condition unused inputs ofcoincidents units that are not completely filled with logic signals; andto the Stop Program Hub.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows how FIGURES 1A, 1B and 2 are to be arranged to disclosethe circuitry and structure of the File Search Tape Data Selector asemployed in an illustrative Fixed Field Operation.

FIGURE 3 shows how FIGURES 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E and SF are to be arrangedto disclose in detail the File Search Circuitry per se (of the FileSearch Tape Data Selector) as employed in a Fixed Field Operation and,or a Floating Word Operation.

FIGURE 4 shows how FIGURES 4A, 4B, 4C and. 4D are to be arranged todisclose the circuitry and structure of the File Search Tape DataSelector as employed in an illustrative FLOATING WORD OPERATION.

FIXED FIELD OPERATION Referring to FIG. I, a File Search operation foralphabetic characters A, B, C, D, in column 5, 6, 7 and 8, respectiveiy,of any record, will be described. The Tape motion is illustrated in theupper portion of FIG. IA. The Tape Unit is of the type shown anddescribed in the W. S. Buslik et al., US. patent application, SerialNumber 468,832, filed November 15, 1954. As the tape is read, thecharacter read is transmitted to storage register (2), identified byreference character 250 in FIG. 1A. As more fully explained in the E. J.Rabenda et al. US. patent application (application A). Each character isthen transmitted from storage register (2) to the sixtwelve translator251, as more fully explained in the E. I. Rabenda et al. US. patentapplication (application A). Thus the characters, as read from the tapeare sequentially transmitted to the translator 251, FIG. 1A.

7 The characters are then sequentially transmitted from the translator251 to the thirteen AND gates 252, FIG. 1A. Storage Register (2) is alsocoupled to AND gate 253, FIG. 1A, by the leads identified as NOT A andNOT B in FIG. 1A. Thus the presence of a NOT A (K) and a NOT B (E)condition results in an output from AND gate 253 which is the NO ZONEINDICATION. The thirteen AND gates 252 provide an output to the tapeemitter hubs 254, FIG. 1A. The output from the tape emitter hubs, 254,represent each tape character in Hollerith code. The selected output ofthe tape emitter hub is shown (FIGS. IA and 1B) going to junctions 255,FIG. 1B. Each junction of junctions 255, FIG. 1B, is merely a bus hubwhich provides a convenient outlet for the tape emitter. It is apparentthat the junctions 255 may provide an increased number of outputs fromeach tape emitter hub.

To File Search for the characters A, B, C, and D in the specificcolumns, (namely 5, 6, 7 and 8) it is necessary to obtain a sequentialnotation. This sequential notation is obtained from the Tape BlockColumn Counter as described below. As the tape moves forward eachspecific character thereon is read. As explained in detail in theRabenda et al. US. patent application (application A) the Tape BlockColumn Counter advances one position as each character is read from thetape. Thus after five characters have been read, the Tape Block ColumnCounter will have advanced five positions, or to 005, if it had startedfrom 000. Briefiy, it is desired to provide an output from the TapeBlock Column Counter, corresponding to columns 005, 006, 007 and 008 ofeach record, or a selected record, that can be combined with the outputfrom the tape emitter hubs in such a manner that AND circuit 265, FIG.1B, can recognize if column 005 had a 12 and a l therein; AND circuit266, FIG. 1B, can recognize if column 006 had a 12 and 2 therein; ANDcircuit 267 can recognize if column 007 had a 12 and 3 therein; and ANDcircuit 268 had a 12 and 4 therein. It is to be appreciated. that inHollerith code an A is represented by a 12 and a l, a B is representedby a 12 and a 2, a C is represented by a 12 and a 3, and a D isrepresented by a 12 and a 4. Then the output from AND circuit 265 willappear only if an A is located in column 005; the output from ANDcircuit 266 will appear only if a B is located in column 006, the outputfrom AND circuit 267 will appear only if a C is located in column 007and the output from AND circuit 268 will appear only if a D is locatedin column 008. In other words: column 005 is inspected for an A, whichis a 12-1 code in Hollerith code; column 006 is inspected for a B, whichis the 12-2 code in the Hollerith code; column 007 is inspected for a C,which is the 123 code in the Hollerith code; and column 008 is inspectedfor a D, which is the 124 code in the Hollerith code. Theinterconnection of AND circuits 275, 276, 277, 278, 279 and 280, as inFIG. 113 provides the necessary sequence from the Tape Block ColumnCounter. AND circuits 275, 276, 277 and 278, respectively provide: asingle output when 005 of the Tape Block Column Counter is conditionedpositive; a single output when 006 of the Tape Block Column Counter isconditioned positive; a single output when 007 of the Tape Block ColumnCounter is conditioned. positive; and a single output when 008 of theTape Block Column Counter is conditioned positive. The outputs of ANDcircuits 275, 276, 277 and 278 are respectively ANDed in AND circuits265, 266, 267 and 268. The outputs of AND circuits 265, 266, 267 and 268are respectively the inputs to OR circuit 28-1. The output of OR circuit281 is connected to the File Search Hub, FIG. 2. Thus OR circuit 281,FIG. 1B, as described, provides positive outputs to the File Search Hub(F.S.), FIG. 2, if column 005 of the tape contained an A, if column 006of the tape contained a B, if column 007 of the tape contained a C, andif column 008 of the tape contained a D. The File Search Hubs, as shownin FIG. 2 are File Search On (F.S.O.) File Search {F.S.) and FieldDefinition (F.D.). The File Search On (F.S.0.) is connected, or pluggedat the control panel, to a +10 volt. The impressing of at +10 voltpotential on the File Search On Hub gates all file search circuitry on.Without this hub, File Search On, being plugged, the file searchcircuitry within the Tape Data Selector is inactive. In Fixed FieldOperation of the Tape Data Selector, as is the case at hand, theMultiple Field Interlock Hub (M.F.I.) FIG. 2, is not plugged. (TheMultiple Field Interlock Hub (M.F.I.) is plugged in a Floating WordSearch Operation of the Tape Data Selector, as explained hereinafter.)The hubs labelled (F.S.) and (F.D.) in FIG. 2 are respectively the FileSearch Hub and the Field Definition Hub. It is necessary for the FileSearch circuitry to pick, or energize, with a positive voltagecondition, the Field Definition Hub (F.D.) FIG. 2 for the columns of thetape records which are to be examined. The Field Definition Hub isenergized for each column within this group of characters, namelycolumns 005 through 008. In order to energize the Field Definition Hub,the Electronic Selector 282, FIG. 1B, is picked. From FIG. 1B it will beseen that hubs 282C and 2825 of the Electronic Selector are connected bya plug wire. The plug hub 282P is connected to the output of AND circuit275. The output of AND circuit 275, FIG. 18, corresponds to column 005,and is impressed on hub 2821 of Electronic Selector 282. Thus theElectronic Selector is picked when column 005 is read. The ElectronicSelector picks when column 005 on the tape is read and it will not pickbefore then or after then. Likewise the Electronic Selector will dropout immediately subsequent to the reading of column 008 of the tape. Theoutput of AND circuit 278, FIG. 1B, corresponds to column 008 and isimpressed on terminal 282D of Electronic Selector 282. Thus theElectronic Selector is dropped out when column 008 is read. (TheElectronic Selector is of the type fully described in the aforementionedE. J. Rabenda et al. application.) Briefly, the Electronic Selector ispicked while columns 005 through 008 inclusive, of the tape is read.During this time, the reading of columns 005 through 008, inclusive, a10 volt output is available at hub 282U of the Electronic Selector. Thisoutput from hub 282U of the Electronic Selector is impressed on theField Definition Hub (F.D.) FIG. 2. Thus the Field Definition Hub (F.D.)FIG. 2 is conditioned positive on the reading of column 005 of the tapeand thus condition is removed after the reading column 008 of the tape.

Now, as tape columns 005 through 008 are read, if the File Search Hub,FIG. 2 just above the Field Definition Hub, FIG. 2, receives a positivecondition on the reading of tape column 005, we find this positivecondition is inverted by Inverter 283A, FIG. 2, and precludes theconditioning of AND circuit 283, FIG. 2. This is now one of the featuresof the File Search Circuitry that is to be noted. In other words, ifduring the field definition condition, the File Search Hub isconditioned at each gate pulse, which is described. in Note 1, FIG. 2,then AND circuit 283, FIG. 2 is not conditioned. Thus the requirementsare that at gate pulse time, we must have a positive condition on theFile Search Hub, if the Field Definition Hub is energized. Thus if theField Definition Hub is conditioned positive and we do not have apositive condition on the File Search Hub, the output of the Inverter283A is positive and AND circuit 283 is conditioned at gate pulse time.This is apparent from an inspection of FIG. 2 since one input of ANDcircuit 283 is conditioned from the FILE SEARCH ON HUB, at all timesduring a File Search operation. When AND circuit 283 is conditioned thegate pulse passes through AND circuit 283 and turns on the File SearchSkip Trigger 284, FIG. 2. When the Field Skip Trigger is turned on it isan indication of that during at least one gate pulse time, within FieldDefinition Time, the File Search Hub was not conditioned positive. Thisis an important feature of the File Search Operation, namely at any timewhen the Field Definition Hub is conditioned positive and a gate pulseis received,

the File Search Hub should be positive, otherwise, the gate pulse isallowed to turn the File Search Skip Trigger ON. When the File SearchTrigger is ON a tape skip over this record will result, as is fullydisclosed in the above identified E. J. Rabenda et al. US. patentapplication. It is to be appreciated that a record on the tape that isskipped over is equivalent to a non-selected record.

The logical of FIG. 2 will be described in detail hereinafter when theFIG. 3 is described.

In this example, the File Search Circuitry, as stated earlier herein, islooking for the characters A, B, C, D in columns 005, 006, 007 and 008,respectively, of any record of the tape. If we found all the characterswe were looking for, in the proper sequence in any record and in thespecified record. columns, (in other words, if we found the A in columns005, the B in column 006, the C in column 007 and the D in column 008)then at no time was AND circuit 283 conditioned and consequently theFile Search Skip Trigger remained in its OFF condition. Since the FileSearch Skip Trigger 284 remained in its OFF condition the File SearchSkip Condition Trigger 285, FIG. 2, remained in its OFF condition. TheOFF condition of the File Search Skip Condition trigger 285, FIG. 2results in a positive input being im pressed on the upper input of ORcircuit 286, FIG. 2.

If we have not found each character in the columns that we were lookingat (namely A, B, C and D, respectively, in columns 005, 006, 007 and.008 of a tape record) we would have turned ON" the File Search SkipTrigger 284, FIG. 2 which would have turned ON the File Search SkipCondition trigger 286, FIG. 2. The reason for the two triggers, namely,the File Search Skip Trigger 284, FIG. 2 and the File Search SkipCondition Trigger 285, FIG. 2, is for additional observation of othercolumns in such operations as the Floating Word Operation describedhereinafter. This will be appreciated when the Floating Word Operationand FIGS. 3 and 4 hereof, are described in detail hereinafter.

A positive condition on R circuit 286, FIG. 2 is present, since at alltimes, during Field Definition time, we obtained a positive condition onF'le Search Hub (F.D.) FIG. 2. This means that we have found everythingwe were looking for, namely a tape record having an A in column 005, a Bin column 006, a C in column 007, and a D in column 008. This record,having an A in column 005, a B in column 006, a C in column 007, and a Din column 008 is a Selected Record.

Once a Selected Record is located, the tape is backspaced at the end ofthe Selected Record and the Selected Record is read into the BufferStorage Unit, shown in FIG. 1A, in the manner fully disclosed in theafore-identified E. I. Rabenda US. patent application. Briefly, theentry into storage of the Selected Record is accomplished by the pulsingof a Start plug hub, FIG. 1B and the subsequent pulsing of a Stop plughub, FIG. 1B. The pulsing of the Stop and Start plug hubs, FIG. 1B iscontrolled by the Tape Block Column Counter and AND circuits 279 and280, FIG. 1B. As seen from FIG. 1B the Tape Block Column Counter, andAND circuit 279, and the Start Plug Hub are so connected that theinformation of the Selected Record will be entered into storagebeginning with column 001 thereof. In other words we see that Start iscoming from the AND circuit 279, FIG. 1B, whose output corresponds tocolumn 001 of the Selected Record. We will stop entry into storage withcolumn 081 of the Selected Record. Again referring to FIG. 1B it will beseen that the Tape Block Column Counter AND circuit 280 and the Stopplug hub are so connected that the entry of information from theSelected Record into storage will be stopped with col umn 081 thereof.It is to be appreciated the Tape Block Column Counter must be plugged tostop entry into storage of column one beyond the last column of therecord. In other words, if we employ 80 character (columns) records andwe want to stop entry into storage with the 80th character (column) sowe use the 081 of the Tape Block Column Counter for this Stop operation.The reading into storage of a Selected Record, including the plug wiringand the operation of the control circuitry including the Tape BlockColumn Counter are more fully disclosed in the aforeddentified E. I.Rabenda et al. US. patent application.

Referring once again to the positive conditioning of OR circuit 286,FIG. 2, we find that AND circuit 288, FIG. 2, was conditioned by theRecord Gate and the conditioning of this AND circuit resulted in theturning ON of the File Search Trigger 287, FIG. 2. With the File SearchTrigger 287, FIG. 2, in its ON condition, the upper input of AND circuit288 is conditioned. The lower input of AND circuit 288, FIG. 2, isconditioned since OR circuit 286, FIG. 2 is conditioned. Thus the GatePulse appiled to the center input of AND circuit 288, FIG. 2, conditionssaid AND circuit. When AND circuit 288, FIG. 2, is conditioned by theGate Pulse, it renders an output pulse termed File Search Backspace. TheFile Search Backspace condition is applied, as shown in detail in FIG.3B hereof, to the circuitry of FIG. 33 of the afore-identificd E. J.Rabenda et al. US. patent application. This condition, File SearchBackspace, cooperates with the circuitry of the E. J. Rabenda et al. US.patent application, and the plug board wiring shown in FIG. 1B hereof,to effect entry into Buffer Storage, FIG. 1A, of the informationcontained in the Selected Record. Reference is made to the earlierdiscussion herein of the entry of the Selected Record into storage.

Briefly, once the Selected Record has been located, the tape isbackspaced and the information from this record is entered into storagefor subsequent processing. It will be appreciated that this sequence maybe repeated a number of times, and a number of Selected Records located,and made available for processing.

Reference is made to the E. J. Rabenda et al., US. patent application,Serial Number 648,371, filed March 25, 1957, and entitled Data Selector.In a Fixed Field Operation of the Data Selector, as described above, theForward Block Stop, FIG. 1B, is shown having a Run In of zero. In otherwords we are controlling, as explained in detail in the above identifiedE. J. Rabenda US. patent application, to run one tape record forward ina Fixed Field Operation. Thus we have Forward Block Stop one" wired toStop and since we need no run in for this operation, Forward Block Stopzero is wired to Run In. The Backward Block Counter, under the conditionof File Search is always wired to zero. The backward movement of thetape is controlled internally on a File Search Backspace condition sothat there is no need to wire the Backward Block Counter to one, back tozero on the File Search circuitry and the circuitry of the DataSelector, E. J. Rabenda et al. US. patent application, accomplishes asingle record backspace as required for a Fixed Field Operation. It isnow apparent that the Data Selector in a Fixed Field Operation may beemployed to locate a tape record having particular bits of informationin particular, or chosen, preselected columns thereof.

The description of 21 Floating Word Operation, set forth hereinafter,will teach how a particular sequence of characters (alphabetic and, ornumeric, or otherwise) may be located in any group of columns of anyrecord of a tape, and how this particular sequence of characters isentered into storage for subsequent processing.

File Search Circuitry (Fixed Field Operation and Floating WordOperation) Reference is made to composite FIG. 3 and in particular toFIG. 3A thereof. The signal Record Gate is obtained from FIG. 35 ofapplication A and conditions the upper input of AND circuit 35, FIG. SA.(All references to figures of application A employed in thespecification and in the drawings of this application refer toapplication A defined as follows: the E. I. Rabenda et al. US. patentapplication, Serial Number 648,371, filed March 25, 1957 and entitledData Selector.) The other input of AND circuit 35, FIG. 3B, isconditioned from the File Search Hub (F.S.) FIG. 3A as plugged on thecontrol panel of the Tape Data Selector (see FIGURES l and 4, hereof).When the File Search circuitry of the Tape Data Selector is employed theFile Search ON hub (F.S.O.) FIG. 3A, has a positive potential thereon asa result of plugging. The positive condition on the File Search Hub ON(F.S.O.) FIG. 3A is impressed via cathode folower 10 on the lower inputof AND circuit 35, FIG. 3A. Thus we now condition AND circuit 35 (FIG.3A) fully and consequently as the Record Gate rises we provide apositive input to the Inverter 36 (FIG. 3A). The inverted Record Gateturns on the File Search Interlock Trigger 37, FIG. 3A. The File SearchInterlock Trigger provides the gating for the File Search Circuitry. Inother words, most all the circuitry in the file search feature iscontrolled by the File Search On hub being plugged on the control panel.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3D of composite FIG. 3, and in particularto the signal Backward Stop Delay obtained from FIG. 32 of applicationA. This signal 0 Backward Stop Delay is applied to the Storage InterlockTrigger 15, FIG. 3D and turns this trigger ON".

We will now proceed with a description of the File Search Circuitry inconjunction with a description of the actual operation thereof. Asexplained above, the File Search Interlock Trigger 37, FIG. 3A is turnedON by the Record Gate. Within the tape record we are examiningparticular columns for particular bits of information. This essentiallya Fixed Field Operation as shown in FIG. 1 and discussed earlier herein.Thus the Field Definition Hub (F.D.) FIG. 3A, which is a File Searchfeature, is conditioned from a particular column of the tape record, asexplained earlier herein. The conditioning of the Field Definition Hubresults in the conditioning of the center input of AND circuit 31, FIG.3A, and the upper input of OR circuit 14, FIG. 3A. As explained earlierherein, as the character in each column of the tape is identified, orrecognized, we get a positive input, if the recognition was correct,into the File Search Hub (F.S.) FIG. 3A. The input positive, from theFile Search Hub, is impressed on the input of Inverter 12, FIG. 3A whichnow produces a negative condition, or a minus 30 volts, on the input ofCathode Follower 13, FIG. 3A. Thus the output of Cathode Follower 13,FIG. 3A, which is impressed on the upper input of AND circuit 31, FIG.3A, results in the precluding of the conditioning of AND circuit 31 eachtime a selected character in a predetermined column of the tape field isrecognized. The first (upper) and third (center) inputs to AND circuit31, FIG. 3A have now been defined. The second input of AND circuit 31,FIG. 3A, has a positive condition impressed thereon as long as the FileSearch ON hub (F.S.O.) is plugged on the control panel of the Tape DataSelector. From FIG. 3A it will be seen that Cathode Follower 10, FIG.3A, is connected between the File Search ON Hub and the second input ofAND circuit 31, FIG. 3A. To briefly summarize input one of AND circuit31 is negative if a selected character was read from the tape, input twoof AND circuit 31 is conditioned as long as the File Search ON Hub isplugged; and input three of AND circuit 31 is conditioned during FieldDefinition. The fourth input to AND circuit 31 is the plus on four pulsewhich is obtained from FIG. 4 of application A. (The plus on four pulseis obtained from the clock (FIG. 4) of application A.) The fifth inputto AND circuit 31 is the write condition obtained from FIG. 39 ofapplication A.

From the above discussion it is now apparent that a positive output fromAND circuit 31, FIG. 3A, occurs on the rise of the plus on four pulse ifthe File Search ON Hub, FIG. 3A, is plugged and if an electricalmanifestation of a selected character was not impressed on the FileSearch Hub, FIG. 3A. Thus if the selected character was not received (asevidenced by a positive electrical manifestation on File Search Hub,(F.S.) FIG. 3A) we get as an output from AND circuit 31 FIG. 3A, apositive condition. The positive output condition from AND circuit 31,FIG. 3A, turns ON" the File Search Skip Trigger 32, FIG. 3A. The turningON of the File Search Skip Trigger 32, FIG. 3A in effect says FileSearch Skip, i.e. we have not found the record that we are looking for,or the character combination that we are looking for in the tape fieldas defined. The details of how a File Search Skip operation isaccomplished, once the File Search Skip Trigger 32, FIG. 3A is turned ONare set forth in the above identified E. I. Rabenda et al. US. patentapplication.

If we had obtained a true recognition on the File Search Hub (F.S.) FIG.3A, (in other words, if we found the character A in column 005 of thetape) the File Search Hub would be conditioned. As explained earlierherein the Field Definition Hub (F.D.) FIG. 3A would be conditioned atthis time. However, when the input of Inverter 12 (FIG. 3A) is positivethe output thereof and the output to Cathode Follower 13, FIG. 3A arenegative. The negative output from Cathode Follower 13 is impresed oninput one of AND circuit 31 and precludes the conditioning of this ANDcircuit by the plus on tour pulse. Consequently AND circuit 31 would notrender a positive output condition and the File Search Skip Trigger 32,FIG. 3A would not be turned ON. If we do not turn the File Search SkipTrigger 32 ON, we obtain a positive output therefrom and we thus have apositive output from Cathode Follower 33, FIG. 3A. This positive outputcondition from Cathode Follower 33 is impressed on, and conditions, thefourth input of AND circuit 34, FIG. 3A. The first input of AND circuit34 has impressed thereon a Run In Completed Condition. The Run InCompleted Condition is obtained from FIG. 42 of application A. Thesecond input of AND circuit 34, FIG. 3A is connected via CathodeFollower 11 to the Multiple Field Interlock Hub, FIG. 3A. The MultipleField Interlock Hub is plugged, or employed only for a Floating WordOperation of the Data Selector. (A Floating Word Operation of the DataSelector is disclosed hereinafter.)

However, it is desirable to point out that the Multiple Field InterlockCondition, occurring during a Floating Word Operation, is employed toeffect the conditioning of AND circuit 34, FIG. 3A and thereby turn ON"the Multiple Field Interlock Condition Trigger 58, FIG. 3E. When theMultiple Field Interlock Condition Trigger 58, FIG. 3E, is ON, during aFloating Word operation manifesting that our first selection wasincorrect, but the second selection, or the second word, is correct. Itis apparent from the drawing that to turn ON the Multiple FieldInterlock Condition Trigger 58, FIG. 313, AND circuit 34, FIG. 3A musthave been conditioned. The function of the Multiple Field InterlockCondition Trigger 58, FIG. 3E, will appear more clearly from thediscussion hereinafter of Floating Word Operation of the Data Selector.

In a standard Fixed Field Operation, as described earlier herein, theMultiple Field Interlock Hub, AND circuit 34 and the Multiple InterlockCondition Trigger 58 are not employed.

However, if we do not turn ON the File Search Skip Trigger 32, FIG. 3A,which was the situation described previously, the output of CathodeFollower 33, FIG. 3A is positive. The positive output of CathodeFollower 33, FIG. 3A is applied to the right input of File Search SkipCondition Trigger 30, and maintains this trigger in its OFF condition.Briefly, if the File Search Skip Trigger is not turned ON" the FileSearch Skip Condition Trigger 30, FIG. 3D will not be turned ON. Namely,if the File Search Skip Trigger 32, FIG. 3A is never turned ON, we willnever obtain a negative condition applied to the right input of the FileSearch Skip Condition Trigger 39, FIG. 3D, to turn it ON. Thus the FileSearch Skip Condition Trigger 30 will remain in its OFF condition aslong as the File Search Skip Trigger 32 is not turned With the FileSearch Skip Condition Trigger in its OFF condition, the output ofcathode follower OR circuits 5963 (FIG. 3D) is a positive outputlabelled Not File Search Skip Condition in FIG. 3D. The output ofCathode Follower 59 is obtained from the Multiple Field InterlockTrigger 58, FIG. 3B. From FIGS. 3D and 3E it will be seen that theoutput of cathode Follower 63 is ORed with the output of the MultipleField Interlock Condition Cathode Follower 59, so that even if we hadturned ON the Multiple Field Interlock Condition Trigger 58, FIG. 3B,the output on the line labelled Not File Search Condition is produced bythe File Search Skip Condition Trigger 30, FIG. 3D, being OFF." Thepositive output of the File Search Skip Condition Trigger 30, namely,the Not File Search Condition is applied via Cathode Follower 63, FIG.3D, to the fourth input of AND circuit 39, FIG. 3A. As explained morefully hereinafter this condition (Not File Search Condition) results inthe condition of AND circuit 39, FIG. 3A, which renders a File SearchBackspace Condition via cathode Follower 40, FIG. 3B to OR circuit 47,FIG. 3B. The File Search Backspace condition means recapitulating,Trigger 32, FIG. 3A did turn ON," that the File Search Skip ConditionTrigger 30, FIG. 3D did not turn ON and hence we do not want, butpreclude a File Search Skip. In other words we want to read this recordinto storage, as outlined earlier herein, since this record is 21Selected Record and we want to make it available for subsequentprocessing. A Selected Record as defined earlier herein is a tape recordin which we have found all the characters searched for in the propersequence in the selected columns thereof.

Now referring, once again to the positive condition, namely NOT FILESKIP CONDITION impressed on the fourth input of AND circuit 39, FIG. 3A,we find that this AND circuit is conditioned thereby for the followingconditions exist concurrently therewith. As explained earlier herein theFile Search Interlock Trigger 37, FIG. 3A is ON and hence via CathodeFollower 38, FIG. 3A, the first input of AND circuit 39, FIG. 3A, isconditioned positive. The second input of AND circuit 39, FIG. 3A, hasimpressed thereon the signal Tape Mark obtained from FIG. 50 ofapplication A. Further, since we are not at a tape mark on the tape, asexplained in application A, the signal Tape Mark is positive and thesecond input of AND circuit 39 is conditioned. Impressed on the thirdinput of AND circuit 39, FIG. 3A, is the L.R.C. Error Sample signalobtained from FIG. 35 of application A. As seen from FIG. 35 ofapplication A the L.R.C. Error Sample is the Longitudinal RedundancyCheck Error Sample. As the tape record is read we obtain the L.R.C.Error Sample, FIG. 3A, at the end thereof. The L.R.C. Error Sampleeffectively samples AND circuit 39, FIG. 3A, to determine if each of thethree other inputs of said AND circuit have a positive conditionthereon. If the three other inputs of AND circuit 39 are positive, theL.R.C. Error Sample passes through said AND circuit and results in aFile Search Backspace signal appearing at the output of Cathode Follower40, FIG. 3B. The File Search Backspace signal is impressed on one inputof OR circuit 47, FIG. 38 (reference is made to FIG. 40 of applicationA) and results in a Backspace Tape condition, as more fully explained inapplication A. The File Search Backspace signal is also impressed via ORcircuit 48, FIG. 3B, on the upper input of AND circuit 49. Thus ANDcircuit 49, FIG. 3B, is conditioned by the L.R.C. Error Sample impressedon the lower input therethat the File Search Skip of. When AND circuit49, FIG. 3B, is conditioned, as explained above, it renders as an outputa Reset GO signal. (Reference is made to FIG. 33 of application A.) TheReset GO signal, as explained in detail in application A, stops theforward motion of the tape. The File Search Backspace signal initiates aback spacing of the tape. Thus the Tape Data Selector is in a FileSearch Backspace Condition at this time. The File Search Backspace sig-11:11 is also impressed on one input of OR circuit 50, FIG. 3B. Theoutput of OR circuit 50, via Inverter 51, FIG. 3B, and Cathode Follower52, FIG. 3B, is effective in precluding the rendition of a Reset GOsignal, FIG. 3B.

As explained above, the File Search Backspace Condition has beeninitiated. Thus the tape is moved in a backward direction over theSelected Record, i.e., the record found to contain the characterssearched for in preselected columns thereof. The tape is now moved in aforward direction and the information of the Selected Record is readinto storage for subsequent processing by a Data Processing Machine suchas an IBM 407 or IBM 519." This entire operation will appear moreclearly from the description that follows.

Reference is made to the Storage Interlock Trigger 15, FIG. 3D. When thetape has stopped moving backward, that is when the tape has beenbackspaced over the Selected Record a Backward Stop Delay signal isimpressed on the right input of Storage Interlock Trigger 15, FIG. 3D,turning said trigger ON. The Backward Stop Delay signal is obtained fromthe output of Cathode Follower 658 of application A. With the StorageInterlock Trigger 15, FIG. 3D, in its ON condition the output of cathodeFollower 16, FIG. 3D, is conditioned positive. The positive conditionfrom Cathode Follower 16, which manifests that the Storage InterlockTrigger 15, FIG. 3D, is ON is impressed via OR circuit 27, FIG. 3D, onthe upper input of AND circuit 64, FIG. 3B. Thus the upper input of ANDcircuit 64, FIG. 3E, is conditioned. The lower input of AND circuit 26,FIG. 3E is connected via OR circuit 26, FIG. SE, to the Start StorageEntry Hubs on the control panel of the Tape Data Selector, and shown inFIGS. 18 and 4C hereof. Thus when the Storage Interlock Trigger 15, FIG.3D, is ON, an entry, or positive condition from the Start Storage EntryHubs results in the conditioning of AND circuit 64, FIG. 3B. By theappropriate wiring of the Start Storage Entry Hubs, as explained earlierherein, the entire information, or selected portions of the informationfrom the Selected Record is read into storage for subsequent processing.In other words, the entry, or positive condition from the Start StorageEntry Hubs conditions AND circuit 64, FIG. 3B. The conditioning of ANDcircuit 64 is impressed via amplifier 65, FIG. 3E, Cathode Follower 66,FIG. 3B, and Inverter 67, FIG. 3E, on the right input of Storage EntryControl Trigger 68, FIG. 3E. Thus the Storage Entry Control Trigger isturned ON and the information from the Selected Record, or any portionor portions thereof, as determined by the wiring of the Start StorageEntry Hubs, is read into storage for subsequent processmg.

On the fall of the positive condition impressed on the Start StorageEntry Hubs AND circuit 64, FIG. 3E is deconditioned. When AND circuit 64is deconditioned a negative condition exists at the output of CathodeFollower 66, FIG. 3B. This negative condition, from Cathode Follower 66,is impressed on the left input of the File Search Interlock Trigger 37,FIG. 3A and turns this trigger OFF. By turning OFF, the File SearchInterlock Trigger 37, on the storage entry cycle of the tape, the filesearch. circuitry is precluded from being active and consequentlypassing over the selected record (a second time), backspacing over theSelected Record (a second time) and reading the Selected Record intostorage a second time and repeating this sequence. In other words, Wewould never be able to go forward if we did not turn OFF the File SearchInterlock Trigger 37, FIG, 3A.

1. IN AN INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM OPERATING TO RETRIEVE A BLOCK OFINFORMATION IDENTIFIED BY NON-ORDER DETERMINING INDICIA, AN INFORMATIONSTORAGE SYSTEM COMPRISING, STORAGE MEANS CONSTRUCTED TO STORE APLURALITY OF GROUPS OF SIGNALS WHEREIN EACH GROUP INCLUDES AT LEASTSIGNALS REPRESENTING PARTICULAR DATA CHARACTERS, SAID CHARACTERS BEINGARRANGED IN BLOCKS OF INFORMATION, EACH OF SAID BLOCKS OF INFORMATIONINCLUDING AS A PORTION THEREOF A PREDETERMINED WORD FOR IDENTIFYING EACHOF SAID INFORMATION BLOCKS FROM ALL THE OTHER BLOCKS IN SAID STORAGEMEANS, SAID PREDETERMINED WORD BEING LOCATED ANYWHERE WITHIN ITSRESPECTIVE INFORMATION BLOCK AND COMPRISING NONORDER DETERMININGINDICIA, AND FIRST MEANS COUPLED TO SAID STORAGE MEANS FOR UTILIZINGSAID PREDETERMINED WORD TO CONTROL THE TRANSLATION OF ITS RESPECTIVEINFORMATION BLOCK FROM THE STORAGE MEANS.